Display apparatus, display method, and computer readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes a display section and a changing section. The display section displays an image that gives a stereoscopic perspective to an observer. The changing section changes an amount by which the stereoscopic perspective in the image displayed by the display section is enhanced according to a setting of the observer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of the U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/762,391 filed on Feb. 8, 2013, which is acontinuation application of International Application No.PCT/JP2011/004423, filed on Aug. 4, 2011, which claims priority toJapanese Patent Application No. 2010-179143, filed on Aug. 10, 2010 andpriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-179144, filed on Aug.10, 2010. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display apparatus, a display method,and a computer readable recording medium.

2. Related Art

A stereoscopic image display apparatus shows a perspective image byproviding parallax images to the right eye and the left eye of anobserver. It often happens that different observers perceive the samestereoscopic image differently in terms of its stereoscopicperspectives. For example, even when the same 3D content is displayed,some people may feel stronger stereoscopic perspectives than others.

Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.H6-324620

Patent Document No. 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2004-289527

A conventional stereoscopic image display apparatus has not performedprocessing to enhance or turn down the spatial effect to images receivedfrom outside, before displaying them on a display. It is preferable thatthe display apparatus display a stereoscopic image with such astereoscopic perspective that would be felt adequate by each observer.However, because each observer perceives different stereoscopicperspectives, it is practically difficult to provide an imageuniversally felt adequate by all the people.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the innovations, a display apparatusincludes a display section and a changing section. The display sectiondisplays an image that gives a stereoscopic perspective to an observer.The changing section changes an amount by which the stereoscopicperspective in the image displayed by the display section is enhancedaccording to a setting of the observer.

According to a second aspect of the innovations, a display methodincludes displaying an image from which an observer perceives astereoscopic perspective. The method includes changing the amount ofenhancement to be given to the stereoscopic perspective of the imagedisplayed, according to a setting of the observer.

The summary clause does not necessarily describe all necessary featuresof the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention mayalso be a sub-combination of the features described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a structure of an image processing apparatus 10 accordingto a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an originally captured image beforeundergoing image processing of the image processing apparatus 10according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a captured image after having undergone imageprocessing of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a detecting section 14according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10according to a modification example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a display apparatus 50 according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a display apparatus 50 according to amodification example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary hardware configuration of a computer 1900according to the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed. The embodiments do not limit the invention according to theclaims, and all the combinations of the features described in theembodiments are not necessarily essential to means provided by aspectsof the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a structure of an image processing apparatus 10 accordingto a first embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 according tothe first embodiment performs image processing to an image captured by acamera. For example, the image processing apparatus 10 is provided in animage inputting stage of a display apparatus. The image processingapparatus 10 may be provided in an image outputting stage of a camera.

The image processing apparatus 10 includes an inputting section 12, adetecting section 14, a distance information obtaining section 16, animage processing section 18, and an outputting section 20. The inputtingsection 12 inputs an image captured by a camera. For example, theinputting section 12 may read a captured image from a storage medium, ormay demodulate a captured image transmitted from a broadcast station orthe like.

The detecting section 14 detects a distance of a subject (subjectdistance) in each region of a captured image. The subject distancerepresents a distance between a camera and a subject at the time ofimage capturing.

For example, the detecting section 14 may calculate a subject distancein each region, depending on a ratio of a blue component of the regionat the time of image capturing. When the subject distance is long whencapturing an image of a landscape, the image takes on a more bluecomponent than an original subject color, due to the effect of the airlayer interposed between the camera and the subject. Therefore, thedetecting section 14 can estimate the subject distance in each region ofa captured image by determining the ratio of the blue component includedin the region.

For example, the detecting section 14 calculates an average color ofeach region in a captured image, analyses the hue of the calculatedaverage color, and calculates the ratio of the blue component that theaverage color contains. Then, the detecting section 14 may estimate thesubject distance of each region, by determining it farther when its bluecomponent ratio is larger.

The detecting section 14 may also calculate the subject distance of thesubject, depending on the spatial frequency of the contour of thesubject displayed on the captured image. For example, the subject whosesubject distance is long when taking an image of a landscape will have alarger blur due to the effect of the air layer interposed between thecamera and the subject. The detecting section 14 can estimate thesubject distance in each region of the captured image according to thespatial frequency of the contour of the subject included in the region.

For example, the detecting section 14 extracts an edge portion of eachsubject in each region of a captured image, and calculates the spatialfrequency of the extracted edge. Then, the detecting section 14 mayestimate the subject distance of each region, by determining it fartherwhen its spatial frequency is lower.

The distance information obtaining section 16 obtains distanceinformation representing a subject distance in each section measured bya camera when it captures the image. For example, the distanceinformation obtaining section 16 can obtain a depth map which istwo-dimensional information that expresses a distance from a camera to asurface of a subject in a screen.

The image processing section 18 changes the distance perspective of theimage of each region of a captured image according to the subjectdistance detected for the region.

For example, the image processing section 18 may change the distanceperspective of the image of each region, by changing the blue componentratio of each region according to the subject distance of each region ofthe captured image detected by the detecting section 14. In an example,the image processing section 18 increases the blue component of eachimage of the captured image, by an amount according to the detectedsubject distance.

More specifically, the image processing section 18 may pre-set areference value of the subject distance, and increase the blue componentratio of the region whose detected subject distance is larger than thisreference value. For example, the image processing section 18 may settwo reference values: 1 km and 10 km. Then, the image processing section18 may increase the blue component ratio in such a manner as 20%increase for regions whose subject distance is between 1 km and 10 km,and 40% increase for the regions whose subject distance is 10 km ormore.

For example, the image processing section 18 may change the distanceperspective of the image of each region of the captured image detectedby the detecting section 14, by blurring the region according to thesubject distance of the region. The image processing section 18 blurseach region of the captured image by a blurring amount according to thedetected subject distance for the region.

More specifically, the image processing section 18 may pre-set areference value of the subject distance, and blur the image in regionswhose detected subject distance is larger than this reference value. Forexample, the image processing section 18 may set two reference values: 1km and 10 km. Then, the image processing section 18 may blur the imagefor regions whose subject distance is between 1 km and 10 km adopting afirst blurring degree, and the regions whose subject distance is 10 kmor more may be blurred adopting the second blurring degree.

By performing such processing, the image processing section 18 can widenthe difference in distance perspective between the region whose subjectdistance is shorter and the region whose subject distance is longer.According to this processing, the image processing section 18 canenhance the sense of perspectives of a captured image.

The image processing section 18 may change the distance perspectives, byfurther based upon the distance information obtained by the distanceinformation obtaining section 16. For example, when the region whosedistance obtained by the distance information obtaining section 16 isdetermined to be farther than a predetermined distance, the imageprocessing section 18 may change the distance perspective of the imagein the region according to the subject distance detected by thedetecting section 14. For example, for the region detected by thedistance information obtaining section 16 to be infinity, the imageprocessing section 18 may change the distance perspectives of the imagein the region according to the subject distance detected by thedetecting section 14.

When the region whose distance obtained by the distance informationobtaining section 16 is determined to be not farther than thepredetermined distance, the image processing section 18 may change thedistance perspective of the image in the region according to the subjectdistance obtained by the distance information obtaining section 16. Forexample, for the region detected by the distance information obtainingsection 16 not to be infinity, the image processing section 18 maychange the distance perspectives of the image in the region according tothe subject distance detected by the distance information obtainingsection 16. By doing so, the image processing section 18 can change thedistance perspective of the image based on a wider range of subjectdistance, to further enhance the perspective.

The outputting section 20 outputs the captured image after havingundergone image processing by the image processing section 18, tooutside. When the image processing apparatus 10 is provided in a displayapparatus, the outputting section 20 outputs the captured image whoseperspective has been enhanced, to a monitor. When the image processingapparatus 10 is provided in a camera, the outputting section 20 stores,in a recording medium, the captured image whose perspective has beenenhanced.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an originally captured image beforeundergoing image processing of the image processing apparatus 10according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example of a capturedimage after having undergone image processing of the image processingapparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 include a man (near view), a house (intermediateview), a mountain (distant view), and the sky (very distant view). InFIG. 3, the sign “x” shows the region in which the blue component ratiohas been increased.

For example, the image processing apparatus 10 increases the bluecomponent ratio for the mountain (distant view) and the sky (verydistant view) contained in the image of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the imageprocessing apparatus 10 increases the blue component ratio by a largeramount for the region of the sky (very distant view) whose subjectdistance is longer, than for the region of the mountain (distant view).

Instead of or in addition to increasing the blue component ratio, theimage processing apparatus 10 may blur the mountain (distant view) andthe sky (very distant view). The image processing apparatus 10 may blurthe region of the sky (very distant view) whose subject distance islonger by a greater amount than the region of the mountain (distantview).

The captured image processed by the image processing apparatus 10 asdescribed above can make an observer feel a greater difference indistance between the regions whose subject distance is near and theregions whose subject distance is long. This means that the imageprocessing apparatus 10 can enhance the perspective of the capturedimage without changing the contour or the structural outline of thesubject in the image captured by the camera as they are.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a detecting section 14according to the first embodiment. The detecting section 14 may includea determining section 22, a blue component detecting section 24, a bluecomponent recording section 26, and a calculating section 28.

The determining section 22 determines the type of a subject in eachregion of a captured image. The determining section 22 may compare apre-registered image pattern with a subject included in a capturedimage, and determines the type of a subject included in the capturedimage.

The blue component detecting section 24 detects the blue component ratioof each region in the captured image. The blue component detectingsection 24 may calculate, for each region, an average color of theregion, and calculate the ratio of the blue component that the averagecolor contains by analyzing the hue of the average color.

The blue component recording section 26 records the ratio of the bluecomponent to be included in the image for each type of subject. For eachtype of subject detectable by the determining section 22, the bluecomponent recording section 26 may record the ratio of the bluecomponent that the color at the surface of the type of subjectoriginally contains. The blue component recording section 26 may recordvalues pre-recorded by a user.

The calculating section 28 reads, from the blue component recordingsection 26, the blue component ratio of the type of subject determinedby the determining section 22. Next, for the blue component ratio foreach subject recorded in the blue component recording section 26, thecalculating section 28 calculates the difference between the ratio ofthe blue component ratio of the type of subject determined by thedetermining section 22 and the blue component ratio detected by the bluecomponent detecting section 24. Then, the calculating section 28calculates the subject distance in the region based on the calculateddistance.

The calculating section 28 calculates whether the subtraction result ofsubtracting the blue component ratio for each subject recorded in theblue component recording section 26 from the blue component ratiodetected by the blue component detecting section 24 is a reference valueor more. Then, when the difference is smaller than the reference value,the calculating section 28 determines that the subject distance is at ashorter reference distance. When the distance is equal to or greaterthan the reference value, the calculating section 28 determines that thesubject distance is at a reference distance or greater.

The detecting section 14 as explained above can accurately detect thesubject distance, if the captured image contains the pre-registered typeof subject.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10according to a modification example of the first embodiment. The imageprocessing apparatus 10 according to this modification example adoptssubstantially the same configuration and function as the imageprocessing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, and so the members havingsubstantially the same configuration and function as in FIG. 1 areassigned the same reference numerals, and the following descriptionfocuses on the differences.

The image processing apparatus 10 according to this modification examplefurther includes a position information obtaining section 32 and ameteorological condition obtaining section 34. The position informationobtaining section 32 obtains the position information representing theposition at which the image has been captured. For example, a cameraequipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver can output acaptured image added with position information showing the capturedposition. The position information obtaining section 32 obtains theposition information included in the captured image having outputtedfrom such a camera.

The meteorological condition obtaining section 34 obtains ameteorological condition at the time of capturing the image, based onthe captured date/time of the image as well as the position informationobtained by the position information obtaining section 32. For example,a camera can output a captured image added with a captured date/time.The position information obtaining section 32 obtains the captureddate/time included in the captured image having outputted from such acamera. The meteorological condition obtaining section 34 obtains, forexample through a network, the meteorological condition of the regionthat the position information obtained by the position informationobtaining section 32 identifies.

The detecting section 14 according to this modification example detectsthe subject distance in each region of the captured image, according tothe meteorological condition obtained by the meteorological conditionobtaining section 34. For example, when it is sunny at the time ofcapturing an image, the contour of the subject whose subject distance islong can be clearly caught because of clear air. Conversely, when it israining or the like at the time of capturing an image, the contour ofthe subject whose subject distance is long is caught unclear because ofstagnation of air. In an example, the detecting section 14 estimates thesubject distance to be farther when the weather is sunny than when it israining or the like, even under the same condition of spatial frequency,when estimating the subject distance based on the spatial frequency ofthe contour of the subject.

In addition to or instead of the obtained meteorological condition, thedetecting section 14 according to this modification example may detectthe subject distance in each region in the captured image according tothe position information obtained by the position information obtainingsection 32. For example, depending on where the image capturing isconducted, the air may be clear or stagnate. Where the air is clear (forexample other regions than urban area), the contour of the subject whosesubject distance is long is captured clear. Conversely, where the air isnot clear (e.g., urban area), the contour of the subject whose subjectdistance is long is captured unclear. Therefore, the detecting section14 can estimate the subject distance to be farther if the imagecapturing place has a clear air (e.g., other regions than urban area)than the image capturing place having a dirty air (e.g., urban area)even under the same condition of spatial frequency, when estimating thesubject distance based on the spatial frequency of the contour of thesubject.

In the above-stated manner, the image processing apparatus 10 accordingto this modification example can detect the subject distance moreaccurately, and accurately enhance the perspective of the capturedimage.

The detecting section 14 according to this modification example may alsodetect the subject distance in each region of a plurality of capturedimages, based on a plurality of images captured in different settings offocus distance to the same subject. In this case, the detecting section14 may detect the region that is focused in the screen for each of theplurality of captured images. Then, the detecting section 14 estimatesthe subject distance of the region that is focused in the screen, fromthe focus distances of the plurality of captured images. Accordingly,the detecting section 14 can generate distance information just as thedepth map even when there is no distance information included in thecaptured image.

The detecting section 14 according to this modification example may alsodetect the subject distance in each region of a plurality of capturedimages, based on a plurality of images captured in different settings ofdiaphragm. In this case, the range of the plurality of captured imagesthat is focused in the screen gradually widens as the state changes fromthe opened diaphragm to the closed diaphragm. With this in view, in anexample, the detecting section 14 estimates the subject distance of eachregion in the screen, by comparing the ranges that are focused in thescreen in each of a plurality of captured images. Accordingly, thedetecting section 14 can generate distance information just as the depthmap even when there is no distance information included in the capturedimage.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a display apparatus 50 according to asecond embodiment. The display apparatus 50 displays an image that givesthe observer a stereoscopic perspective. In the second embodiment, thedisplay apparatus 50 displays a right-eye image to be provided to theright eye of an observer, and a left-eye image to be provided to theleft eye of the observer, as an image that give the observer astereoscopic perspective. The right-eye image and the left-eye image areimages that have parallax in a right and left direction, which gives astereoscopic appearance when they are provided to the observer.

The display apparatus 50 includes an inputting section 54, an imageenhancing section 56, a display section 58, and a changing section 60.The inputting section 54 inputs, from outside, an image that gives astereoscopic appearance when it is looked by an observer. The inputtingsection 54 inputs an image reproduced from a recording medium or animage resulting from being demodulated from a broadcast signal. In thisexample, the inputting section 54 inputs a right-eye image to beprovided to the right eye of an observer, and a left-eye image to beprovided to the left eye of the observer.

The image enhancing section 56 performs image processing on the imageinputted by the inputting section 54, and either enhances or turns downthe stereoscopic appearance that would be felt by an observer. Note thatwhen there is no enhancement setting function in the image enhancingsection 56, the image enhancing section 56 may output the image inputtedby the inputting section 54 as it is without performing any imageprocessing.

The display section 58 displays an image received from the imageenhancing section 56, the image giving a stereoscopic appearance when itis looked by an observer. In the present embodiment, the display section58 displays a right-eye image and a left-eye image, as an image thatgives a stereoscopic appearance when it is observed by an observer.

An exemplary display section 58 includes a monitor and special glasses.The monitor displays the right-eye image and the left-eye image. Thespecial glasses are designed to provide the right-eye image displayed onthe monitor solely to the right eye of the observer, and the left-eyeimage displayed on the monitor solely to the left eye of the observer.Accordingly, the display section 58 can make the observer experience thestereoscopic perspective.

The changing section 60 changes the amount by which the stereoscopicperspective is enhanced in the image displayed by the display section58, according to the setting of the observer. Specifically, the changingsection 60 changes the parameter for image processing used by the imageenhancing section 56, thereby controlling the amount of enhancement forthe stereoscopic perspective.

In an example, the image enhancing section 56 either enhances or turnsdown the stereoscopic perspective of an image, by performing thefollowing image processing.

When the subject distance is long when capturing an image of alandscape, the image takes on more blue component than an originalsubject color, due to the effect of the air layer interposed between thecamera and the subject. Therefore, for enhancing the stereoscopicperspective, the image enhancing section 56 increases the blue componentratio of the image depending on the subject distance. Conversely, forturning down the stereoscopic perspective, the image enhancing section56 decreases the blue component ratio of the image depending on thesubject distance. The image enhancing section 56 either increases ordecreases the blue component ratio by a larger amount for a subjectwhose subject distance is longer. Accordingly, the image enhancingsection 56 can enhance or turn down the stereoscopic perspective of acaptured image.

In this case, the changing section 60 can change the amount ofenhancement that the image enhancing section 56 gives to the bluecomponent ratio for the subject, depending on the setting of theobserver. In other words, the changing section 60 changes the amount bywhich the blue component ratio is increased or decreased, depending onthe setting of the observer. Accordingly, the changing section 60 canchange the stereoscopic perspective of the captured image according tothe setting of the observer.

When the subject distance is long when capturing an image of alandscape, the image will be blurred compared to the actual contour ofthe subject, due to the effect of the air layer interposed between thecamera and the subject. So as to enhance the stereoscopic perspective,the image enhancing section 56 can enlarge the blurring of the imagedepending on the subject distance. Conversely, for turning down thestereoscopic perspective, the image enhancing section 56 may reduce theblurring of the image depending on the subject distance. The imageenhancing section 56 either increases or decreases the amount of blurfor a subject whose subject distance is longer. Accordingly, the imageenhancing section 56 can enhance or turn down the stereoscopicperspective of a captured image.

In this case, the changing section 60 can change the amount by which theimage enhancing section 56 blurs a subject, depending on the setting ofthe observer. In other words, the changing section 60 changes the amountby which the image is blurred, depending on the setting of the observer.Accordingly, the changing section 60 can change the stereoscopicperspective of the captured image according to the setting of theobserver.

In addition, by widening the distance between the right-eye image andthe left-eye image, the convergence of the observer approaches parallel,to cause the subject to be felt farther. Therefore, so as to enhance thestereoscopic perspective, the image enhancing section 56 may increasethe inter-image distance which is between the display position for theright-eye image and the display position for the left-eye image of thesame subject, according to the subject distance of the subject.Conversely, for turning down the stereoscopic perspective, the imageenhancing section 56 may shorten the inter-image distance depending onthe subject distance. The image enhancing section 56 either increases ordecreases the inter-image distance by a larger amount for a subjectwhose subject distance is longer. Accordingly, the image enhancingsection 56 can enhance or turn down the stereoscopic perspective of acaptured image.

In this case, the changing section 60 can change the amount by which theimage enhancing section 56 enhances the inter-image distance for thesubject, depending on the setting of the observer. In other words, thechanging section 60 changes the amount by which the inter-image distanceis increased or decreased depending on the setting of the observer.Accordingly, the changing section 60 can change the stereoscopicperspective of the captured image according to the setting of theobserver.

As explained above, the display apparatus 50 can freely change thedegree of stereoscopic perspective that the observer would feel from animage. Accordingly, the display apparatus 50 can provide a stereoscopicimage with such a stereoscopic perspective that would be felt adequateby each observer.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 include a man (near view), a house (intermediateview), a mountain (distant view), and the sky (very distant view). Theimage shown in FIG. 2 is an example of the original captured imagebefore the image enhancing section 56 according to the second embodimentgives image processing thereto. The image shown in FIG. 3 is an exampleof the original captured image after the image enhancing section 56according to the second embodiment has given image processing thereto.In FIG. 3, the sign “x” shows the region in which the blue componentratio is increased.

For example, the image enhancing section 56 increases the blue componentratio for the mountain (distant view) and the sky (very distant view)contained in the image of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the image enhancingsection 56 increases the blue component ratio by a larger amount for theregion of the sky (very distant view) whose subject distance is longer,than for the region of the mountain (distant view).

Instead of or in addition to increasing the blue component ratio, theimage enhancing section 56 may blur the mountain (distant view) and thesky (very distant view). The image enhancing section 56 may blur theregion of the sky (very distant view) whose subject distance is longerby a greater amount than the region of the mountain (distant view).

The captured image processed by the image enhancing section 56 asdescribed above can make an observer feel a greater difference indistance between the regions whose subject distance is near and theregions whose subject distance is long. This means that the imageenhancing section 56 can enhance the perspective of the captured imagewithout changing the contour or the structural outline of the subject inthe image captured by the camera as they are.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a display apparatus 50 according to amodification example of the second embodiment. The display apparatus 50according to this modification example adopts substantially the sameconfiguration and function as the display apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 6,and so the members having substantially the same configuration andfunction as in FIG. 6 are assigned the same reference numerals, and thefollowing description focuses on the differences.

The display apparatus 50 according to this modification example furtherincludes a detecting section 70. The detecting section 70 detects thesubject distance for each region of the image to be displayed by thedisplay section 58.

For example, the detecting section 70 detects the inter-image distancebetween the display position for the right-eye image and the displayposition for the left-eye image of the same subject. When people observean object that is positioned far, the angle of convergence between theright eye and the left eye narrows than when an object that ispositioned near is observed. Therefore, the inter-image distance betweenthe display position for the right-eye image and the display positionfor the left-eye image of the same subject widens as the increase insubject distance. Therefore, the detecting section 70 can estimate thesubject distance of each region by detecting the inter-image distance ineach region on a screen for the right-eye image and the left-eye imageinputted by the inputting section 54.

In addition, in this modification example, the image enhancing section56 can enlarge the amount of enhancement of the stereoscopic perspectiveby enlarging the difference between the image display distance in theimage displayed by the display section 58 for a portion in which thedifference in the subject distance detected by the detecting section 70is larger. Accordingly, the image enhancing section 56 can pursue theenhancement processing step by step according to the subject distance.

In this modification example, the changing section 60 may conductcalibration prior to display of an image. Specifically, the changingsection 60 can display the image from which a different stereoscopicperspective is expected, and calibrate it to enable an observer toselect the amount of enhancement that he desires on the stereoscopicperspective of his image on the display section 58.

After calibration, the image enhancing section 56 enhances the imageoutputted from the inputting section 54, according to the amount ofenhancement on the stereoscopic perspective selected by the observer.Then, the display section 58 displays the image enhanced by the imageenhancing section 56. Accordingly, the changing section 60 can observethe image with a stereoscopic perspective adequate for the observer.

Additionally, the display apparatus 50 according to the secondembodiment can further include a function of the image processingapparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the displayapparatus 50 according to the second embodiment can provide astereoscopic image with such a stereoscopic perspective that would befelt adequate by each observer.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary configuration of a computer 1900 according tothe present embodiment. The computer 1900 according to the presentembodiment is equipped with a CPU periphery that includes a CPU 2000, aRAM 2020, a graphics controller 2075, and a display apparatus 2080 whichare mutually connected by a host controller 2082. The computer 1900 isalso equipped with an input/output unit having a communication interface2030, a hard disk drive 2040, and a CD-ROM drive 2060 which areconnected to the host controller 2082 via an input/output controller2084, and a legacy input/output unit having a ROM 2010, a flexible diskdrive 2050, and an input/output chip 2070 which are connected to theinput/output controller 2084.

The host controller 2082 connects the RAM 2020 with the CPU 2000 and thegraphics controller 2075 which access the RAM 2020 at a high transferrate. The CPU 2000 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2010and the RAM 2020, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller2075 obtains image data generated by the CPU 2000 or the like on a framebuffer provided in the RAM 2020, and causes the image data to bedisplayed on the display apparatus 2080. Alternatively, the graphicscontroller 2075 may contain therein a frame buffer for storing imagedata generated by the CPU 2000 or the like.

The input/output controller 2084 connects the host controller 2082 withthe communication interface 2030, the hard disk drive 2040, and theCD-ROM drive 2060, which are relatively high-speed input/outputapparatuses. The communication interface 2030 communicates with otherapparatuses via a network. The hard disk drive 2040 stores a program anddata used by the CPU 2000 within the computer 1900. The CD-ROM drive2060 reads the program or the data from the CD-ROM 2095, and providesthe hard disk drive 2040 with the program or the data via the RAM 2020.

The ROM 2010, and the flexible disk drive 2050 and the input/output chip2070 which are relatively low-speed input/output apparatuses areconnected to the input/output controller 2084. The ROM 2010 storestherein a boot program executed by the computer 1900 at the time ofactivation, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1900, orthe like. The flexible disk drive 2050 reads the programs or data from aflexible disk 2090, and provides the hard disk drive 2040 with theprograms or data via the RAM 2020. The input/output chip 2070 connects aflexible drive 2050 to an input/output controller 2084, and connectsvarious input/output apparatuses via a parallel port, a serial port, akeyboard port, a mouse port, and the like to the input/output controller2084.

A program to be provided for the hard disk drive 2040 via the RAM 2020is provided by a user by being stored in such a recording medium as theflexible disk 2090, the CD-ROM 2095, and an IC card. The program is readfrom the recording medium, installed into the hard disk drive 2040within the computer 1900 via the RAM 2020, and executed in the CPU 2000.

A program that is installed in the computer 1900 and causes the computer1900 to function as the image processing apparatus 10 according to thefirst embodiment includes an inputting module, a detecting module, adistance information obtaining module, an image processing module, andan outputting module. The program or module acts on the CPU 2000, tocause the computer 1900 to function as an inputting section 12, adetecting section 14, a distance information obtaining section 16, animage processing section 18, and an outputting section 20.

The information processing described in these programs is read into thecomputer 1900, to function as an inputting section 12, a detectingsection 14, a distance information obtaining section 16, an imageprocessing section 18, and an outputting section 20, which are theconcrete means as a result of cooperation between the software and theabove-mentioned various types of hardware resources. Moreover, the imageprocessing apparatus 10 for the usage is constituted by realizing theoperation or processing of information in accordance with the usage ofthe computer 1900 of the present embodiment by these concrete means.

The program installed in the computer 1900 and causing the computer 1900to function as the display apparatus 50 according to the secondembodiment includes an inputting module, an image enhancing module, adisplay module, and a changing module. The program or module operates onthe CPU 2000 or the like, to cause the computer 1900 to function as aninputting section 54, an image enhancing section 56, a display section58, and a changing section 60.

The information processing described in these programs is read into thecomputer 1900, to function as an inputting section 54, an imageenhancing section 56, a display section 58, and a changing section 60,which are the concrete means as a result of cooperation between thesoftware and the above-mentioned various types of hardware resources.Moreover, the display apparatus 50 for the usage is constituted byrealizing the operation or processing of information in accordance withthe usage of the computer 1900 of the present embodiment by theseconcrete means.

For example when communication is performed between the computer 1900and an external apparatus and the like, the CPU 2000 executes acommunication program loaded onto the RAM 2020, to instructcommunication processing to a communication interface 2030, based on theprocessing described in the communication program. The communicationinterface 2030, under control of the CPU 2000, reads the transmissiondata stored on the transmission buffering region provided in therecording apparatus such as a RAM 2020, a hard disk drive 2040, aflexible disk 2090, or a CD-ROM 2095, and transmits the readtransmission data to a network, or writes reception data received from anetwork to a reception buffering region or the like provided on therecording apparatus. In this way, the communication interface 2030 mayexchange transmission/reception data with the recording apparatus by aDMA (direct memory access) method, or by a configuration that the CPU2000 reads the data from the recording apparatus or the communicationinterface 2030 of a transfer destination, to write the data into thecommunication interface 2030 or the recording apparatus of the transferdestination, so as to transfer the transmission/reception data.

In addition, the CPU 2000 causes all or a necessary portion of the fileof the database to be read into the RAM 2020 such as by DMA transfer,the file or the database having been stored in an external recordingapparatus such as the hard disk drive 2040, the CD-ROM drive 2060(CD-ROM 2095), the flexible disk drive 2050 (flexible disk 2090), toperform various types of processing onto the data on the RAM 2020. TheCPU 2000 then writes back the processed data to the external recordingapparatus by means of a DMA transfer method or the like. In suchprocessing, the RAM 2020 can be considered to temporary store thecontents of the external recording apparatus, and so the RAM 2020, theexternal recording apparatus, and the like are collectively referred toas a memory, a storage section, or a recording apparatus, and so on inthe present embodiment. In the present embodiment, various types ofinformation such as various types of programs, data, tables, anddatabases are stored in the recording apparatus, to undergo informationprocessing. Note that the CPU 2000 may also retain a part of the RAM2020, to perform reading/writing thereto on the cache memory. In such anembodiment, too, the cache is considered to be contained in the RAM2020, the memory, and/or the recording apparatus unless noted otherwise,since the cache memory performs part of the function of the RAM 2020.

The CPU 2000 performs various types of processing, onto the data readfrom the RAM 2020, which includes various types of operations,processing of information, condition judging, search/replace ofinformation, described in the present embodiment and designated by aninstruction sequence of programs, and writes the result back to the RAM2020. For example, when performing condition judging, the CPU 2000judges whether each type of variables shown in the present embodiment islarger, smaller, no smaller than, no greater than, or equal to the othervariable or constant, and when the condition judging results in theaffirmative (or in the negative), the process branches to a differentinstruction sequence, or calls a sub routine.

In addition, the CPU 2000 can search for information in the file ordatabase or the like in the recording apparatus. For example when aplurality of entries, each having an attribute value of a firstattribute is associated with an attribute value of a second attribute,are stored in a recording apparatus, the CPU 2000 searches for an entrymatching the condition whose attribute value of the first attribute isdesignated, from among the plurality of entries stored in the recordingapparatus, and reads the attribute value of the second attribute storedin the entry, thereby obtaining the attribute value of the secondattribute associated with the first attribute satisfying thepredetermined condition.

The above-explained program or module can be stored in an externalrecording medium. Exemplary recording medium include a flexible disk2090, a CD-ROM 2095, as well as an optical recording medium such as aDVD or a CD, a magneto-optic recording medium such as a MO, a tapemedium, and a semiconductor memory such as an IC card. In addition, arecording apparatus such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a serversystem connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internetcan be used as a recording medium, thereby providing the program to thecomputer 1900 via the network.

While the embodiment(s) of the present invention has (have) beendescribed, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to theabove described embodiment(s). It is apparent to persons skilled in theart that various alterations and improvements can be added to theabove-described embodiment(s). It is also apparent from the scope of theclaims that the embodiments added with such alterations or improvementscan be included in the technical scope of the invention.

The operations, procedures, steps, and stages of each process performedby an apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims,embodiments, or diagrams can be performed in any order as long as theorder is not indicated by “prior to,” “before,” or the like and as longas the output from a previous process is not used in a later process.Even if the process flow is described using phrases such as “first” or“next” in the claims, specification, or drawings, it does notnecessarily mean that the process must be performed in this order.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a processor thatcauses a computer to: display an image that gives a stereoscopicperspective to an observer; enhance or turn down the stereoscopicperspective of the image based upon detected distances of regions withinthe image; and change an amount by which the stereoscopic perspective inthe image displayed is enhanced or turned down according to astereoscopic perspective setting of the observer, wherein the changingperforms calibration to enable the observer to select an amount ofenhancement for the stereoscopic perspective, by displaying images, eachimage being the same subject but having stereoscopic perspectives thathave been enhanced or turned down by different amounts, and thedisplaying displays an image according to the amount of enhancement forthe stereoscopic perspective selected for the observer.
 2. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enhancing of thestereoscopic perspective of the image includes increasing a bluecomponent ratio larger for a subject whose subject distance is longer,and the changing changes the amount by which the enhancing enhances ablue component ratio with respect to a subject, according to thestereoscopic perspective setting of the observer.
 3. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enhancing of thestereoscopic perspective of the image includes increasing a blur by alarger amount for a subject whose subject distance is longer, and thechanging changes the amount by which the enhancing blurs a subject,according to the stereoscopic perspective setting of the observer. 4.The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displayingdisplays a right-eye image to be provided for a right eye of theobserver and a left-eye image to be provided for a left eye of theobserver, as an image from which an observer perceives a stereoscopicperspective, the enhancing of the stereoscopic perspective includesincreasing an inter-image distance between a display position for theright-eye image and a display position for the left-eye image by alarger amount for a subject whose subject distance is longer, and thechanging changes the amount of an inter-image distance for a subjectprovided by the enhancing, according to the stereoscopic perspectivesetting of the observer.
 5. The display apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the processor further causes the computer to detect a subjectdistance for each region of an image displayed, and the enhancingincreases an amount of enhancement for the stereoscopic perspective inthe image to be displayed for a portion whose subject distance islarger.
 6. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thedisplaying displays a right-eye image to be provided for a right eye ofthe observer and a left-eye image to be provided for a left eye of theobserver, as an image from which an observer perceives a stereoscopicperspective, the processor further causes the computer to: detect theinter-image distance between a display position for the right-eye imageand a display position for the left-eye image in a same subject; andwherein the enhancing increases an amount of enhancement for thestereoscopic perspective in the image to be displayed for a portionwhose subject distance is larger.
 7. A non-transitory computer readablerecording medium storing therein a program causing a computer tofunction as a display apparatus described in claim
 1. 8. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enhancing or the turningdown of the stereoscopic perspective of the image includes changing adistance perspective of each of the regions of the detected distances ofthe regions.
 9. A display method comprising: displaying an image fromwhich an observer perceives a stereoscopic perspective; enhancing orturning down the stereoscopic perspective of the image based upondetected distances of regions within the image; and changing an amountby which the stereoscopic perspective in the image displayed is enhancedor turned down according to a stereoscopic perspective setting of theobserver, wherein the changing includes performing calibration to enablethe observer to select an amount of enhancement for the stereoscopicperspective, by displaying images, each image being the same subject buthaving stereoscopic perspectives that have been enhanced or turned downby different amounts, and the displaying includes displaying an imageaccording to the amount of enhancement for the stereoscopic perspectiveselected for the observer.
 10. The display method according to claim 9,wherein the enhancing or the turning down of the stereoscopicperspective of the image includes changing a distance perspective ofeach of the regions of the detected distances of the regions.